Thank you @audioman58 for the write up. I’ve also been in queue to send my Level 2 in for a number of weeks and just sent it out yesterday. Really looking forward to hearing the improvements you talk about.
Linear Tube Audio - Micro ZOTL - version -3 Update on upgrades
Having just received the Micro-Z OTL version 2 in Feb and seeing a much better upgrade was available . I had to do it to help complete my quest to get everything in my audio system as good as possible, and for 6 months the 30% off the upgrade stands . Where the older model had 4 circuit boards ,now just one very high quality Ceramic board ,with a small sister board , Gold over thick Copper traces. To start with an additional 80k uf in filter capacitance over 200k in total ,more then most amplifiers,pretty much Everything is name brand parts . I have the Top of the line Lundahl input transformers from Sweden .
having many years in Audio and having had many audio pieces modded , this preamp is Loaded with top of the line in parts quality using worlds best Belleson low noise regulators , Nichicon GOLD capacitors ,from Japan ,AMTRAN BEST - Golden SQ also Japan .EPCOS from Germany.Clarity-CMR -U.k all top notch capacitors
With balanced inputs , and the David Berning design Micro -Z-OTL output stage and Mark and engineering team . The interior is vastly upgraded, now a. Nice large toggle switch to choose between the 6 v - 6sn7 tubes and 12v. 12sn7 , the whole tube socket area is a nice thick platform no flexing and having just 1 Big main board not only more robust but much lower noise floor is Very apparent. Sonically the New version -3 is a major step up. To start I used just the stock tubes in the Version 3 to test vs an audio friends with the version 2 with much better Rays select 6sn7 tubes and same Telefunken 12au7 tubes that I bought . TheNew Version is better with ease ! Image depth is better and a deeper larger soundstage , Bass-MidBass has even better dynamics and slam, even quieter blacker back grounds, With excellent control ,and is just more tuneful, fast, and articulate. When I decided Now it’s time to. Put in my top Rays select 6sn7 tubes And 12AU7 Telefunken Red tip medical grade tubes . It was at minimum another 5 % Better still !! This was a substantial upgrade even with stock tubes .I go to several audio gatherings, the ones who have heard this all have $50k+ audio systems and stated you would have to spend well over $12k to just to come close to this preamplifier performance music just is seamless and coherent which I totally agree !! It has the best of what tubes do best in a Big open soundstage stage , with lots of Air and separation around the instruments ,with excellent Solid state like imaging Big dynamics and ultra fast Tight Bass, much more so now in the version 3 . Listening ,to classic Beatles to Pink Floyd interactions in the micro details that before we’re barely audible now come out of the shadows and are clear and defined , this alone to me is special .I have not found a preamp even close in the $10k+ range that can better this SS or vacuum Tubes, Great Job 👏 To all at LTA Audio 👍🎶👍.
Showing 9 responses by cbrez
Got my Level 3 upgrade back last week. It did need a bit of break in within my system. There is a bit greater extension or perhaps clarity that stands out on both the high and low end. Cymbals shimmer a bit more than ever and the notes of a standing bass are more taut. The midrange is still outstanding. The LTA is not an old school tube preamp,with the lush, dense midrange of old CJ sonics, but is also not like a lean SS preamp either. The Level 3 upgrade maintains for me the clean, present midrange quality that was there before. Perhaps a bit “cleaner” than before, which makes sense given the apparent attention to lowering the noise floor in this redesign. I am very pleased I had the upgrade done. LTA was very good at communicating status, not surprising given my past interactions with them. The Level 3 is still a great companion to my Pass XA25 and I am very happy overall with LTA and this upgrade. |
@sls883 Tube rolling in the LTA definitely has a noticeable impact. I have had to change some tubes around, but am using medical grade Telefunkenkens for the inputs and currently Sylvania 6SN7s on the output. All from Brent Jesse. One other thing I have noticed with the Level 3 upgrade - massed strings, particularly violins in orchestral music sound more natural and less congested. I know the complexity of reproducing massed strings has been noted on this forum and others and certainly the recording comes significantly into play here, but Level 2 to Level 3 is really noticeable in this regard. I continue to be impressed the more time I listen after the upgrade. |
@troutstreamnm Enjoy! I continue to be incredibly impressed. There really is more “there, there”! And while mine has settled in, it has taken a bit of time in my system. |
@sls883 I am still truly enjoying the upgrade and not hearing any downsides. There really is this immediacy and vibrancy that wasn’t quite there in the Level 2, as great as the Level 2 was for me. I am going to try some other 6SN7s soon. i also really recommend the upgrade. |
@sls883 While I was waiting on the upgrade, I used an older Schiit Saga+ preamp with a CBS VT231 tube in it. It was the first preamp I purchased when I was starting to get back into the audio journey. It actually sounded quite nice! It was $400 5 years ago. I’ll definitely be holding on to it as a backup. |